Five Up, Three Down after five weeks

Note: The last couple of weeks have been a tad hectic on my end, which may explain the lack of posting. I hope to turn that around real soon.

We’re zeroing in on the sixth week of the 2015 season. Time is flying already on this season, we are starting to get a sense that several teams are emerging from the pack as contenders.

Instead of doing a Power Ranking like years ago, I will continue on with last year’s theme of Five Up and Three down to examine how the top and bottom teams are looking thus far. This isn’t a look at the standings to find these eight teams either. Most of this is just a gut reaction to where we are at in this present moment.

Top Five

1. Vancouver Whitecaps – No team is looking better than the Caps are at the moment. Their attack continues to impress but also their defense has been good too. They have gobbled up 12 points in their first five games, which is best in the league. Now the question remains, will they keep up at this current pace? Only one team in the past five seasons has kept this pace up in route to a Supporters’ Shield win.

2. New York Red Bulls – Out of the Eastern Conference teams, right now, only the Red Bulls have my attention. Jesse Marsch has come into what appeared to be an impossible situation in the preseason, and has guided this team to an unbeaten start through three games. The big names like Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill are gone while Bradley Wright-Phillips, Lloyd Sam and Dax McCarty have helped fans forget the wild offseason.

3. Real Salt Lake – Another unbeaten team on the list. I fully expected RSL to decline in a big way in 2015 but so far they have proven me wrong yet again. Also, Javier Morales is playing like a new man, which has been key. But can he sustain that level of play for 30 more games?

4. FC Dallas – Sure they stumbled badly in Portland over the weekend. But their defense was arguably the best in March. There is no denying what Oscar Pareja has done to this team either. If he can get more out of Mauro Diaz, this is a MLS Cup contending team.

5. D.C. United – New York has my attention more but United is still a team worth keeping tabs on here. Ben Olsen continues to do a lot with a little and that attack will only improve once Fabian Espindola’s six game suspension ends.

Three Down

1. Philadelphia Union – Two points through five games is a rough start for anyone. But already it seems like the wheels are falling off as a goalkeeper change may be on the horizon.

2. Colorado Rapids – Their defense has been impressive so far, only allowing two goals. But once again their attack is anemic and some fans are already questioning whether or not Pablo Mastroeni needs to be sacked.